Telephone apparatus



Sept. 17, 1935. c. L. GOODRUM 2,014,525

TELEPHONE APPARATUS Filed May 12, 19353 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG.

CLOCK MECHANISM POLAR/ZED 2 *1 INVENTOR C. L. GOODRUM ATTORNEY Sept. 17,193 c. GOODRUM TELEPHONE APPARATUS Filed May 12, 1933 3 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTOR CL GOOD/PUM A TTORNEV M' 1935 c. L. GOODRUM TELEPHONE APPARATUSFiled May 12, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 III s gmlm lAll/ENTOR v C L. GOODRUMA 7' TOR/VL Y Patented Sept. 17, 1935 M i'i' STAT PATENT OFFHIETELEPHONE APPARATUS Application May 12, 1933, Serial No. 670,690

'7 Claims.

This invention relates to telephone systems and more particularly todial systems arranged for measured service.

The object of this invention is to provide more reliable andsatisfactory equipment at the subscribers station for automaticallyrecording the calls made by a subscriber and the duration of eachanswered call, the records thus obtained serving as the basis forbilling the subscriber.

According to this invention, a call recording mechanism is provided ateach subscribers station. The mechanism is of the tape recording typeprovided with apparatus for making a perforated record of the datanecessary to bill the calls made from the station.

According to one feature of the invention, said call recording mechanismis arranged to perforate the tape to record the number dialed upon theorigination of a call and the duration of each answer call, the tapebeing advanced after the called subscriber answers, one step for eachunit period during which the talking connection is maintained.

Another feature of the invention resides in the provision of means toperforate the tape to indicate no-charge if the call is a no -chargecall or if the calling party releases the connection before the call isanswered.

Another feature of the invention resides in the provision. of a numberof energy storing devices in said mechanism whereby the energy storedtherein is used for operating the tape advancing and tape perforatingdevices, the manipulation of the calling dial being conditioned by thestorage of energy in said storing devices.

Briefly considered, the invention is a recording mechanism for recordingon a moving tape (1) a perforation for each digit of the number dialed,(2) a perforation indicating whether or not the wanted subscriber hasanswered (3) another perforation indicating the termination of aconnection. The entire mechanism may be placed within the base of anordinary telephone stand and provided with external means for supplyingenergy to the several energy storing devices contained within themechanism and from which the tape advancing and tape perforating devicesobtain the requisite power for the performance 50 of their separateoperations. In the present embodiment of the invention said energystoring devices comprise spring motors which are wound up throughsuitable winding gears by a winding shaft manipulated by the subscriberprior to 55 dialing the called number, although any other suitableenergy supplying means may be employed with equal advantage.

In accordance with the present embodiment of the invention, therefore,after the subscriber has removed his receiver from the switchhook, the 5winding shaft is rotated and allowed to return to normal, after which hemay proceed to dial the called number in the usual way. The energy thusstored in the power springs of the separate motors is then utilizedduring the establishment 10 of the connection and afterwards foroperating the tape advancing device and the separate punch perforatorsto record on said tape the information above mentioned.

A clearer conception of the scope and purpose 15 of the invention willbe obtained from a consideration of the following description andappended claims taken in connection with the attached drawings in which:

Fig. l is a side view assembly taken along sec- 20 tion line l-l of Fig.2 of the recording mechanism that comprises the invention;

Fig. 2 is a front view along section line 2-2 of Fig. 1 showing thepower storing and tape control devices; 25

Figs. 3 and 4 are detailed front and side views, respectively, of theWinding gear of a typical power storing device;

Fig. 5 is a top view of the latching mechanisms for controlling the tapepunching and the dial 30 locking device;

Fig. 6 is a detailed front view of the dial control punch lockingfixture taken along section line fi-5 of Fig. 5; and

Fig. '7 is a detailed front view of a dial control 35 fixture takenalong section line l-l of Fig. 5.

Referring to the figures, the two wheels l9!) and NH represent thepay-out and take-up reels, respectively, for the recording tape H32.Takeup reel i9! is geared to a spring motor H59 so 40 that, at theproper time, wheel l9! may be revolved in the direction shown forwinding up the tape as it is propelled by sprocket or tape-advance wheelW8. The tape advance wheel liiil is provided with projections Nil aroundits periphcry for engaging the feed holes of the tape (not shown). Thiswheel is rotatably mounted on the fixed shaft its. At one side of saidwheel Hi8 (right side in Fig. 1) a ratchet wheel ml is mounted rotatablyon shaft m3 and is rigidly connected to gear )2 which, in turn, is inmesh with gear m5. Gear 565 is rotatable in the direction of the arrowby a clock controlled power spring encased within shell I29 when thedevice is timing a call. A pawl Hi8, mounted 'on wheel I00, is held inengagement with the teeth of wheel I81 by a spring so that when wheelI01 rotates, it drives wheel I00, but when it is at rest does notinterfere with the rotation of wheel I00 by other means, pawl I08 inthis case riding idly over the teeth of wheel I01.

On the opposite side of wheel I00 (left side in Fig. 1) is a secondratchet wheel I04 that is likewise rotatably mounted on shaft I03. WheelI09 is also rotatably mounted on shaft I03 adjacent to wheel I44 but isnot rigidly connected to it. Wheel I39 carries a projection H0 that ispositioned between pins III and H2 fixed on the side of ratchet wheel I34, and normally in engagement with pin III. Wheel I09 is provided withgear teeth by means of which it is driven by gear wheel H5 mounted onshaft H6 and driven through gears H4 and H3 from the dial shaft IE1 ofthe calling dial H8. A pawl I06, also mounted on wheel I00, engages theratchet teeth of wheel I04. Now when dial H8 is operated, assuming thatthe winding shaft H6 has been previously rotated as describedhereinafter, rotation is imparted to shaft H6 through gears H3 and H4and hence to gear H5. Since gear H5 is permanently meshed with gearwheel I09, said wheel rotates in the direction of the arrow, and, whenthe dial has moved the amount allowed in the excess of the impulsemotion, projection H0 engages pin H2 so that thereafter wheel I09 driveswheel I00 through the engagement of wheel I04 with pawl I 06. On thereturn movement of the dial wheel, wheel I09 rotates in the oppositedirection and projection H0 engages pin IH, thus returning wheel I04 toits original position, the teeth of Wheel I04 passing under pawl I06without effect. Thus, at each operation of the dial, wheel I00 isoperated to advance the tape a number of feed holes corresponding to thevalue of the digit dialed and a punch I91 is operated to perforate ahole opposite the last feed hole of the tape corresponding to the lastimpulse of the dial, as more completely described hereinafter. Whenwheel I00 is rotated by ratchet wheel I01, pawl I96 rides over the teethof wheel I04 without effect.

There are four separate spring motor boxes, namely, I2I, I39, I20 and Iall controlled from shaft I 22 as described hereinafter; box I20 furthercontaining a suitable clock mechanisms Each of the boxes mentioned isgeared to a part of the mechanism for the purpose of supplying powerthereto when required for operation, as described hereinafter.

The construction of any of these spring motors is typified by thatidentified as I23 and shown in detail in Figs. 3 and 4. On the fixedshaft I28 are rotatably mounted the spring box and gear I21. Box I23contains a spiral spring I30 one end of which is fastened to the shaftI20 and the other to box I23. On the side next to gear I21, box I23 isprovided with ratchet teeth which are engaged by a pawl I23 attached togear I21. When the spring un- Winds, box I 23 is rotated in thedirection of the arrow and drives gear I21 through pawl I29, thussupplying power to any mechanism meshed to gear I21. When box I23rotates in the opposite direction, spring I30 is wound and the teethpass under pawl I29 without effect. On the periphery of box I23 areformed gear teeth I2I which mesh with the teeth of gear wheel I24 thatis loosely mounted on shaft I22, said shaft also carrying winding gearI3I for rotating spring box I20 through gears I25 and I26 and windinggear I40 for rotating spring box I39, and beveled gear I31 with thelatter of which is meshed a pinion gear on shaft I30 for driving gearbox I50 through gears I44 and I93. These separate gear mechanisms arefor the purpose of supplying power to other independent springmechanisms I20, I39 and E50, respectively.

Shaft I22 may be rotated manually by a crank I32 or other suitablemeans. It carries projections I36, I35, I18 and I34, the first of whichcan engage with a lug I33 on gear I24, the second with lug I80 on gearI31, the third with lug ISI on gear I 40 and the last with lug I84 ongear I3I. The movement of shaft I22 is limited by stops to less than onecomplete revolution, and the gears I24, 31, I49 and I3I are soproportioned that the movement of shaft I22, from normal to extremeposition, will wind fully the spring in every one of the gear boxes I23,I25, I30 and I50. When for instance, spring I30 in box I23 is unwoundsufliciently to require full winding, lug I33 engages projection I 36.In the same way, as each of the springs in every other gear box unwindsto require full winding, each of the lugs connected to the respectivewinding gears engages its respective projection on shaft I22. When shaftI22 is rotated in the direction of the arrow, projection I36 engages lugI33 and rotates gears I24 and I2I and, therefore, box I23 in the properdirection to Wind up spring I30. The amount of motion of shaft I22required before projection I36 and lug I33, and every other pair ofprojections and lugs engage depends on how far springs I30 in each ofthe boxes have unwound since the last winding. Thus, a single operationof shaft I22 fully winds up all the springs regardless of the relativeamount of operation of the devices driven by each of them. 4

To prevent the dial II 8 from being operated until winding shaft I22 hasbeen rotated, the following mechanism is provided: A shaft I45 (seeFigs. 5 and 7) suitably supported for rotation carries a bell cranklever having arms I 41 and I48, projecting at right angles to each otherabout the axis of rotation. The lever is normally held in the positionshown in Fig. '1 by the spring I98 the other end of which is attached tostop member I56. The latch I81, pivoted at I6I to a suitable support, isengaged by an extension rod I 42 of the switchhook I52 of the telephoneset so that, when the receiver is removed, latch I81 is lowered to aposition to engage a projection I43 on arm I48 to hold said arm in itsoperated position. When, at the time that the winding mechanism is beingwound up, shaft I22 is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow,arm I46 engages arm I41 of the bell crank lever and rotates arm I48 sothat if the receiver is off the hook, latch I81 engages the projection I43 on arm I48. The forcing down of arm I48 brings spring latch I53 onarm I48 into a position to engage arm I46 on the return of shaft I22 toits normal position and prevents said shaft from operating again untillatch I81 has been disengaged from arm I48 by the subscriber restoringthe receiver. The movement of arm I 48 through a pin and cam slotconnection with lever I moves the free end of lever I55 down. When shaftI22 returns to normal under the power stored in spring I49 and after armI48 has been latched in its operated position, the edge I54 of cam I 46engages the depressed end of lever I55 and forces it over, moving stopmember I 56, to which it is pivotally connected, out of engagement withthe lug I51 which is attached to the dial shaft H6 and whose engagementwith member I56 prevents the operation of the dial. Thus, it isnecessary to remove the receiver, then operate the winding shaft I22 ofthe spring motors to its full extent and allow it to return to normalbefore the calling dial can be operated. When arm I42 is raised at thetime that the subscriber removes his receiver from the hook, the springlatch I5! is moved intoa position to engage beneath the end of armatureI19 (see Fig. 2) of the polarized magnet I59 which operates when thecalled party answers to hold said armature in an operated position evenafter the magnet releases, which it does when the called subscriberrestores.

The number punching mechanism (see Figs. 5 and 6) comprises a rotatableshaft I63 supported on suitable bearings to which are rigidly attachedcam I64, gear I65 and an escapement wheel I66. The spring motor I23,connected therewith through gear I21 which meshes with gear I65,supplies power for rotating shaft I63. A punch I91 (see Fig. 2) isoperable by cam I64 for perforating the tape, the guides and anvil forwhich are not shown in detail, being such as are used in telegraph tapeperforators. Wheel I66 carries two lugs I61 and I68 which engage theteeth of the escapement I69. Normally, wheel I66 is prevented fromrotating by lug I66 engaging the escapement I69. This escapement isconnected to one end of a pivoted lever I19 the other end of whichengages a dog III operated by the dial shaft I I6. When the dial ismoved out of its normal position, escapement I69 rocks in a clockwisedirection releasing lug I68 and engaging lug I61. When the dial returnsto normal, it restores I69 to the position shown, releasing lug I61 sothat shaft I63 makes a complete revolution under spring power before itis stopped by lug I68 engaging the .escapement I69. Lugs I61 and I68 andthe corresponding escapement teeth are so staggered as to permit wheelI66 to make a complete revolution. As shaft I66 revolves, cam I64operates punch I91 to perforate the tape for every return of the dial.

The conversation recorder comprises a shaft I12, which corresponds toshaft I63 of the number punch, to which is rigidly attached a gear I13through which it is driven by the spring motor I69 by means of gearwheel I94 and the escapement wheel I14 for controlling its motion. Italso carries a cam I15 which is free to slide upon the shaft but rotateswith it. In its normal position with respect to shaft I12 cam I15 is ina position to operate punch I16 (see Fig. 1) when the cam is rotated toperforate the tape to indicate that the called subscriber has notanswered; or in the case of a free call such as an official call, itindicates the same thing so that when the perforated tape is passedthrough the tabulating mechanism the call will not be charged.

The escapement I11, which cooperates with escapement wheel I14 on shaftI12, functions to release shaft I12 for a complete revolution in muchthe same manner as escapement I69 controls the release of shaft I66. Theescapement is mounted on a shaft I62 which is rotatable against thetension of torsion spring I96. For

' rocking the escapement I11 to release its upper arm from one pin ofescapement wheel I14, as viewed from Fig. 2, the escapement I11 isprovided with a projection I81 which is engaged by a spring latch I66pivoted to one end of a rod I85 which slides on a support I95. The lowerend of rod I85 is pivoted to one end of the armature I19 of magnet I59.When the called subscriber answers magnet I59 operates its armature I19which is held in its operated position, since the calling subscribersreceiver is off the switchhook, by the 5 engagement of one end of thearmature with the spring latch I5I carried by rod I42. Through rod I65and the engagement of spring latch I86 with lug I81 of escapement I11,the armature also rocks the escapement to release its upper arm from onepin of escapement wheel I14 and to engage its lower arm with a secondpin on wheel I14. The shaft I12 is thereby permitted to rotate a smallfraction of a revolution under the driving power of spring box I39. Asrod I85 continues its movement, it disengages its spring latch I86 fromlug I81 and the torsion spring I96 returns the escapement I11 to itsinitial position thereby disengaging its lower arm from the second pinof escapement wheel I14. Shaft I12 is now per- 20 mitted to rotate theremainder of a complete revolution or until the first pin on escapementwheel I14 re-engages the upper arm of escapement I11. At the same timethat the armature I19 of magnet I59 operated the escapement through rodI35, it also swung the forked arm I82, rigidly attached thereto, toslide the cam I15 along shaft I12 out of alignment with punch I16 andinto alignment with punch I88 so that, upon the rotation of shaft I12 asjust described, the cam I15 operates the punch I83 to perforate the tapeas an indication that the called subscriber has responded and thattiming for the call has started. Also pivotally connected to armatureI19 is a slidable rod I98 which carries on its upper end a detent pawl@ngaging with ratchet teeth I19 of the clock spring box I26. When magnetI59 operates upon the response of the called subscriber, in addition tothe function previously described, it releases the detent from theratchet teeth M9 whereby the spring in box I26 under clock controlrotates gear I65 to rotate, in turn, gear I62 and ratchet wheel I91.Ratchet wheel I91, by its engagement with the feed sprocket wheel I06through pawl I91, rotates the wheel I66 at a predetermined rate untilthe call is terminated. The sprocket wheel thus advances the tape I92through the die block associated with the punches I91, I16 and I89, thetape being wound on take up reel I9I driven by the spring of spring boxI56.

When the conversation is terminated the calling and called subscribersrestore their receivers to the switchhooks. The restoration of thecalled subscribers receiver releases magnet I59, but its armature I19 isheld in its operated position through the engagement thereof with springlatch I5I on rod I42 until the calling subscriber restores his receiverto switchhook I52 thereby depressing rod I42. The restoration ofarmature I19 to normal now re-engages the detent pawl on rod I88 toarrest further advance of the tape I92, restores the rod I85 to itsnormal position and, through arm I82, slides the cam I15 on shaft I12into its normal position where it will, on a subsequent rotation,operate punch I16. The de- 5 pression of rod I42 by lug I6I carriedthereby depresses one end of lever I66 which is freely pivoted on shaftI63 between two collars as disclosed more clearly in Fig. 5. The leverI66 is thereby rocked on shaft I63 so that its other end engages with70.

cam I89 fixed to shaft I62 and thereby rotates shaft I62 and escapementI11. The upper arm of escapement I11 is now disengaged from one pin ofescapement wheel I14 to allow shaft I12 to rotate through anothercomplete revolution. As

shaft I12 rotates, cam I15 operates punch I16 to perforate the tape asan indication that the call has terminated.

The depression of rod I42 also removes latch I87 from engagement withlug I43 of the bell crank lever and the lever is then restored to itsnormal position by spring I88 releasing the latch I53 from cam M6 tofree the winding shaft I22 for rotation and to restore the stop arm I56to normal to again lock the dial shaft I I6.

The foregoing operations have resulted in the punching of a perforationby punch I91 for each digit dialed indicative of the designation of theline called, the punching of a perforation by punch I83 upon theresponse of the called subscriber if the call was successfullycompleted, or by punch I'I6 if the called subscriber did not answer, andthe punching of a perforation by punch I16 upon the restoration of thecalling and called subscribers receiver to their switchhooks. Thespacing between the perforations punched by punchers I83 and I15 on asuccessful call through the advance of the tape by clock controlledspring box I is therefore a'measure of the duration of the call.

On unsuccessful calls the shaft H2 is released by escapement I'I'Ithrough the operation of lever I60 and cam I89 when the callingsubscriber restores his receiver and makes but a single revolution.Since magnet I 59 is not operated cam I75 is effective to operate punchI'IB for perforating on the tape I92 an indication of a no answer call.

The tape is in this manner perforated to make a record of all calls madeduring a billing period and may be used by the operating telephonecompany in conjunction with a suitable tabulating printer to prepare abill for the services rendered.

What is claimed is:

1. In a telephone system, a calling station, a dial at said callingstation for dialing the digits of the designation of a desired station,and a recording mechanism at said calling station comprising a tape,means responsive to the operation of the dial in dialing each digit ofthe designation for advancing said tape an amount indicative of thevalue of the digit dialed, means for perforating said tape at theconclusion of each advance movement thereof, clock controlled means forfurther advancing said tape, means rendered operative upon the responseof the called station for perforating said tape in a distinctive mannerand to thereupon release said clock controlled means to advance saidtape at a predetermined rate, and means controlled upon the terminationof the call for arresting the further advance of said tape and forperforating said tape in a further distinctive manner, the spacingbetween the last two mentioned perforations being indicative of theduration of the call.

2. The combination of a call recording mechanism with an automatictelephone station provided with a calling device, said mechanismcomprising a tape perforating device, a tape, energy storing meanscoupled to said perforating device, means responsive to the operation ofsaid calling device for operating said tape perforating device toperforate said tape by energy supplied to said device from said energystoring means through said coupling and means responsive to the absenceof energy in said energy storing means for rendering said calling deviceinoperative.

3. In a telephone system, a telephone station, a dial at said stationcapable of generating a series of impulses, and a call recordingmechanism for said station comprising a tape, a tape advancing device, atape perforating device, an energy storing means, an energy transmittingmeans for storing energy into said storing means, 10 coupling meansbetween said storing means and said tape advancing device and said tapeperforating device, means responsive to the storage of energy in saidstoring means by the operation of said energy transmitting means forrendering 15 said dial effective for operation, and means responsive tothe operation of said dial for releasing the energy stored in saidstoring means through said coupling means to operate said tape advancingdevice for advancing said tape a length 20 proportional to the number ofimpulses generated by said dial and to operate said tape perforatingdevice for perforating said tape at the time the last impulse of aseries of impulses is generated by said dial. 25

4. In a telephone system, a telephone station,

a dial at said station, and a call recording mechanism in associationtherewith at said station, said call recording mechanism comprising ashaft, and means responsive to the operation of said shaft for renderingsaid dial operative.

5. In a call recording mechanism for recording calls established tocalled lines under the control of a dial at the station of a callingline, a magnet connected to said calling line and responsive to theanswer of a called subscriber, a tape advancing device, and a tapeperforating device com prising a first punch responsive to themanipulation of said dial for perforating a hole in said tape at the endof each series of impulses generated from said dial, a second punchresponsive to the operation of said magnet when said called subscriberanswers for perforating a hole in said tape to indicate the starting ofthe talking connection and a third punch responsive to the restorationof the receiver of said calling telephone station for perforating a holein said tape to indicate said restoration.

6. The combination in a call recording mechanism for an automatictelephone station of a tape, a tape advancing device and meansresponsive to the establishment of a talking connection between saidtelephone station and another station for operating said tape advancingdevice to advance said tape in proportion to the time during which saidconnection is maintained.

'7. The combination in a call recording mechanism for an automatictelephone station of a tape, a tape advancing device, a timing device,energy storing means, said means being coupled to said tape advancingdevice, and means responsive to the establishment of a talkingconnection between said station and another station for releasing theenergy in said storing means for operating said tape advancing device toadvance said tape in intervals measured by said timing device during thetime that said connection is maintained.

CHARLES L. GOODRUM.

